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ATM Insight news will be updated on a fortnightly basis.
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FAA ATC system “vulnerable to malicious code attacks”
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The US Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) has reported that "web applications used in supporting ATC systems operations are not properly secured to prevent attacks or unauthorised access". The OIG also reported the FAA has failed to establish "adequate intrusion-detection capability" for its cyber security.
The audit, carried out for the House aviation subcommittee in May, discovered that federal investigators were able to hack into an air traffic control tower, weather systems and traffic flow management computers. "Our test identified a total of 763 high-risk, 504 medium-risk and 2,590 low-risk vulnerabilities, such as weak passwords and unprotected critical file folders," the report states.
The OIG said: “During the audit, our staff gained unauthorized access to information stored on web application computers and an ATC system, and confirmed system vulnerability to malicious code attacks. In addition, we found that FAA had not established adequate intrusion–detection capability to monitor and detect potential cyber security incidents at ATC facilities. Intrusion–detection systems have been deployed to only 11 (out of hundreds of) ATC facilities. Also, cyber incidents detected were not remediated in a timely manner.”
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Eurocontrol commits Eur700 million to SESAR…
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The 38 Eurocontrol member states have made a Eur700 million commitment to SESAR – the Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research programme.
The decision marks the final acceptance of the agreements defining Eurocontrol’s relationship with the SESAR Joint Undertaking by the Eurocontrol Permanent Commission. “SESAR is crucial to the success of the Single European Sky, which is why the Member States of Eurocontrol are strongly committed to making it happen” said Vesela Gospodinova, President of the Eurocontrol Permanent Commission. “It is good for air transport, good for industry and good for the travelling public.”
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Australia agrees pay deal
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Airservices Australia has welcomed a 95 per cent positive vote by air traffic controllers and associated staff for a new three and a half year collective employment agreement.
The agreement includes pay rises of 4.3 per cent per annum over 3.5 years with changes to sick leave and rostering arrangements, providing the foundations for improved productivity. Once cleared by the Australian Workplace Authority, the deal is expected to be in force by June 2009. The report was carried out to assess the risk posed by rising usage of commercial software and IP-based technologies in air traffic modernisation projects.
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IAA reports turnover up, profits down
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The Irish Aviation Authority annual report and accounts for 2008 show that turnover increased by 8.1 per cent to EUR166.7 million, up from EUR154.2 million in 2007. Profit after tax was recorded at EUR12.2 million, down from EUR14.7 million in 2007. Airport movements rose by less than 1 per cent over 2007 figures to 269,684 movements. En route traffic rose marginally (less than 1 per cent) to 309,181 movements. North Atlantic airspace communications traffic rose by 1.8 per cent to 422,086 flights, handled by the IAA radio station at Ballygirreen, which provides the radio link between controllers and pilots on the Eastern half of the North Atlantic. The trend in 2009 so far shows continued decline of 12 per cent in airport traffic, and 7 per cent transatlantic traffic.
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Electronic coordination brings FASTI communications
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Eurocontrol will launch live trials of electronic coordination between controllers working in different countries in 2010 under the FASTI programme. Eurocontrol is working with skyguide and its subsidiary Skysoft to introduce the cross-border tactical screen-to-screen controller coordination. The System Supported Coordination (SYSCO) will reduce voice communications for routine tasks, reducing workload and errors. The trials will take place between Geneva and Zurich area control centres, with Germany and Italy expected to participate in future SYSCO trials.
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Germany implements new approach procedures
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Germany’s DFS has implemented approach procedures with vertical guidance using barometric vertical navigation (APV/baro-VNAV) at Frankfurt and Munster/Osnabruck airports. Germany’s remaining airports will follow during 2009. APV/baro-VNAV is a non-precision approach procedure where a navigation system on board the aircraft presents computed vertical guidance to the pilot. The pilot uses a decision altitude instead of minimum descent altitude. It reduces the risk of controlled flight into terrain during non-precision approach procedures. ICAO resolution A36-23 states approach procedures with vertical guidance (APV) must be implemented for all instrument runways as primary or backup for precision approach by 2016.
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ENAV and Selex agree to target joint export opportunities
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SELEX Sistemi Integrati and ENAV have signed an agreement to pursue new business opportunities. According to a joint statement, “Marina Grossi, CEO of SELEX Sistemi Integrati, and Guido Pugliesi, CEO of ENAV, have signed a cooperation agreement that will allow ENAV and SELEX Sistemi Integrati to identify and undertake initiatives of common interest in the foreign markets mentioned. The two Italian companies will thus be able to jointly offer the entire range of services and products designed for suppliers of services for air traffic control, civil aviation authorities, airport management and handling companies, supplies of weather forecasting services and airlines.”
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Middle East cooperation initiative
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CANSO has announced the launch of a Middle East ‘Strategic Cooperation Group’ to develop an ATM Action Plan and vision for the region at its Middle East Seminar, held in Jeddah on 11-12 May. The Conference identified four main action areas: safety, airspace planning, operational/technical issues, and ANSP cooperation. The Strategic Cooperation Group members are: Emirates Airlines, SITA, UAE, Serco, Jordan, Sudan, Yemen, GACA, Bahrain, CANSO, and NANSC.
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Airbus sets up RNP company
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From July 2009, QUOVADIS, a 100 percent subsidiary of Airbus, based in Toulouse, will sell and provide 'Required Navigation Performance' (RNP) services to authorities, airlines and airports, ranging from RNP procedures design, testing and flight operations packaging, to RNP training. Airbus has signed a cooperation agreement for RNP procedure design with the French Civil Aviation University (ENAC) in Toulouse, and CGx AERO in SYS, a specialist in aeronautical and geographic information systems based in Castres, France.
Industry news
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Raytheon wins NextGen contract
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A Raytheon-led team has been awarded a USD2.3 million seven-month, firm-fixed-price contract by the NextGen Institute, a venture between the National Center for Advanced Technologies and the FAA. The team will study the NextGen Integrated Communications, Navigation and Surveillance architecture and determine the National Airspace System's needs for 2018 to 2025. The study analyses ICNS interfaces to operator flight planning systems, aircraft capabilities, avionics functions and Federal Aviation Administration automation systems. The Raytheon-led team includes Rockwell Collins, ARINC, Aviation Management Associates and Thales.
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FAA commends ARINC for oceanic communications
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The FAA has recognized Arinc for “ongoing outstanding performance” in providing air-ground voice communications services in the FAA’s Oceanic Flight Information Regions. Under the current five-year Aeronautical Mobile Communications Service (AMCS) contract awarded in September 2005, the FAA reviews ARINC’s performance for each six month period of the contract. ARINC radio communications centres in Oakland and New York relay over two million voice and electronic messages annually between controllers and aircraft flying in US oceanic airspace.
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Fiji opts for Comsoft AMHS
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COMSOFT has been selected by Airports Fiji Limited (AFL) to implement a new AMHS/ATN system along with a modern AIS for NOTAM and OPMET operations. Comsoft will deploy its AIDA-NG message handling system as a direct replacement for the existing AFTN solution, using ATN ground-to-ground routers from its partner BCI. Fiji will play an important part in the future ATN backbone connecting the USA with the Asia-Pacific ICAO region.
Comment
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Who will own and manage the Single European Sky?
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The European Commission recently issued a green paper seeking views on whether European funds, set aside for European transport networks (TEN-T) should be extended to air traffic management, to fund the implementation of Single European Sky and SESAR (the SES technology platform).
The Industry Consultative Board – the means by which industry (ANSPs, suppliers and airspace users – that is airlines to you and me) has input into the regulatory process – had already made its view on this crystal clear. Yes. The rest was mere detail. But it was not all plain sailing, nor plain thinking.
The ICB had already released a paper looking at funding for SESAR. The three options that they canvassed were increased charges, a loan from the European Investment Bank, and TEN-T funding. So drafting the ICB response should almost have been a mechanical exercise. After all, one of the arguments that the green paper canvasses is that the funding build intelligent transport systems, or ITS. For the Commission, so much of a goal is ITS that it already exists as an acronym. A single European air traffic system would be a very intelligent transport system.
So far so good.
As far as some members of the ICB are concerned, we should spend more public money building a new European ATM network. That is what SESAR is all about. The SES is a European ideal after all.
To read the full article click here - The article continues focussing on alternative approaches such as putting the entire delivery of a single European ATC service up to tender and looking at other ways to introduce a certain amount of competition.
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